Switch.



C. G. JOHNSON.

SWITCH. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. l, 1909. RENEWED JUNE 3, 1910.

Patented Oct. 18,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. G. JOHNSON.

SWITUH. APPLIOA TION IILBD SEPT. 1, 1909. RENEWED. JUNE 3, 1910.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CYRUS G. JOHNSON, OF TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Application filed September 1, 1909, Serial No. 515,603. Renewed June 3, 1910. Serial No. 564,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRUS G. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taylorville, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of the invention are, generally, the provision in a merchantable form, of a device of the above-mentioned class, which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, facile in operation, and devoid of complicated parts; specifically, the provision of mechanism of novel and improved form, adapted to be located adjacent the switch point to move the same, remotely located means for operating the above-mentioned mechanism being provided, and car-carried means being provided, whereby the means for actuating the switch-throwing mechanism, may be putintooperation; other and further objects being made manifest hereinafter as the description of the invention progresses.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in that port-ion of this instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain peculiar features of the device, it being understood, that, within the scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed, divers changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top ,plan of my invention, parts being removed and broken away, better to illustrate the structure; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the mechanism whereby the switch point is moved; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the connecting member whereby the portion of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is assembled with the switch point; Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the car-carried means whereby the device as an entirety is actuated; and Fig. 6 is a detail top plan of the lever which is adapted to be engaged by the car-carried means shown in Fig. 5.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 indicates the main line rails, the

numeral 2 the switch point, and the numeral 3 the siding rails.

The invention includes three cooperating mechanisms; a mechanism denoted by the numeral 4, whereby the switch point may be moved; a mechanism 5 located remote from the first-named mechanism whereby the same may be operated; and a device denoted generally by the numeral 6 in Fig. 5 and adapted to be located upon the car, whereby the device which is denoted by the numeral 5, may be actuated, as the car passes thereover.

Passing now to a detailed description of the portion of the invention which is denoted by the numeral 4, it will be seen, by referring to Fig. 2, that the same includes a boxlike housing 7, which is open at the top and adapted to be closed by a lid 8, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1. Rising from the bottom of the housing 7, intermediate its ends, is a partition 9, spaced flanges 10 extending longitudinally of the housing upon the bottom thereof, from the partition 9 to the rear of the'housing, Which is open between the said flanges. Projecting from one side of the housing toward the center thereof is an arm 11 which is downwardly inclined at its end as denoted by the numeral 12. From the lower end of this inclined portion 12 an arm 15 extends forward beneath the arm 11; From the forward end of the housing a ledge 16 extends inwardly. From one side of the housing, adjacent the rear end, projects an extension 17, which, when the device is mounted in place between the rails, terminates adjacent to the switch point 2.

Mounted for reciprocating between the upstanding flanges 10 and adapted to move beneath the arm 15 in close relation thereto, is a slide 18, the rear end 19 of which is solid to form an abutment for a compression spring 20 which is located within the slide 18, the spring 20 extending outwardly through the forward end of the slide 18, which is cut away for its reception. Extending through the slide 18 from end to end is a rod 21 located within the spring 20 and provided at its rear end beyond the portion 19 of the slide, with an adjusting nut 22. The forward end of the rod 21 is mounted in a notch cut in the upper edge of the partition 9.

Disposed between the arms 15 and 11 is a semi-circular head 23 rotatably mounted upon a pivot member 24 extending through the arms 11 and 15. The head 23 is provided at its forward end with integral, laterally extending arms 25 and 25 which, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 2, are pro vided with horizontally disposed openings, extending entirely through the arms, the extremities of the arms being solid as denoted by the numeral 26, these portions 26 being provided upon their forward faces with notches 27.

Fingers 28 and 28 are provided, the same being mounted upon the slide 18 adjacent its forward end, upon pivot members 29. The fingers are apertured intermediate their ends, and through these apertures extends a rod 30 carrying at its endsnuts to engage the fingers, the rod being slidably mounted in its intermediate portion in a stud 31 which rises from the upper face of the slide 18, compression springs 32 being mounted upon the rod 30 between the stud 31 and the fingers 28 and 28. By adjusting the nuts which are located upon the ends of the rod 30, the rear extremities of the fingers may be adjusted to register in the notches 27 of the arms 25 and 25 when either arm is forwardly extended to the limit of its travel, as shown in the case of the arm 25, the springs 32 being compressed in the operation.

Referring to Fig. 2, it is to be understood that the spring 32 which, is adjacent the arm 25 is under abnormal compression, the spring 32 which is adjacent the arm 25 being abnormally extended. The head 23 is provided upon its forward edge with a centrally disposed extension 33 to which is pivoted the rear end of a rod 34 extending through an arm 35 which is fashioned integral with the housing 7, to project into the interior thereof, a compression spring 36 surrounding the rod 34 and having abutment with the arm 35 and the extension 33 of the head.

Depending from the arm 11 and pivotally connected therewith is a latch 38 adapted to register in notches 37 in the rear edge of the head 23, a rod 39 being pivotally connected with the latch 38 and arranged to extend upwardly through the portion 12, a compression spring 40 surrounding the rod 39 and having abutment against the latch 38 and the portion 12. Mounted upon the upper face of the slide 18 is a leaf spring 41, the rear end of which, extending through the arm 15 is adapted to engage the lower extremity of the latch 38 to move the same out of engagement with the notches 37 when the slide moves rearwardly as hereinafter described.

The rear portion of the head 23 is united with the switch point 2 by means of a connecting member 42 which, at one end is pivoted as denoted by the numeral 43 to the head 23. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that this connecting member 42 comprises an inner portion 44 terminating in a tubular portion 45 provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 46, the member 44 being provided intermediate its ends with an integrally formed outstanding collar or shoulder 50. Telescoped within the portion 45 is a rod 47 provided with a collar 48 and with studs 49 extending through the slot 46, a compression spring 63 surrounding the tubular member 45 between the studs 49, the shoulders 48 and 50 serving as an abutment for the spring. This spring 63 is effective to form a yieldable connection between the head 23 and the switch point 2, so that the switch point may be held yieldingly to the rail, thereby to be displaced by the flange upon the wheel of a car running from the pivoted end of the switch point toward the free end thereof.

The extremity of the member 47 may be threaded as denoted by the numeral 51 to receive a nut whereby the switch point 2 may be assembled with the mechanism whereby it is thrown. The end of the rod 21 which extends through the partition 9 carries a chain 52 connected with a rod 53, which, in its turn, is connected with a wire or other flexible element 54, connected with the switch-throwing mechanism denoted by the numeral 5 in Fig. 1. One end of a flexible element 55, a chain or the like, is connected with the forward end of the slide 18, the other end of the member 55 being assembled with an arm 56, mounted upon the lower extremity of a shaft 57 extending through the ledge 16 and through the lid 8, an operating lever 58 being assembled with the upper end of the shaft 57, removably, in any suitable manner.

The operation of the device as thus far described is as follows :Presupposing that the device is in the position shown in Fig. 2, when either of the members 52 or 55 is drawn upon, the slide 18 will move forward, the-spring 20 being compressed in the operation. As the slide 18 thus moves forward the finger 28' which is in engagement with the notch 27 of the arm 25 will move forward away from said arm. The finger 28 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extends through the opening in the arm 25 will likewise move forward until its extremity stands to the front of the arm 25, the equilibrium between the springs 32 being restored and the end of the arm 28 being positioned to engage the notch 27 in the arm 25 when the slide moves rearward. When the member 52 or the member 55, as may be, is loosened,

the slide 18 will move rearwardly and the finger 28 which in the first instance was out of engagement with the notch 27 will now engage said notch tilting the head 23. As the head 23 is thus tilted, the arm 25 will move forward, the adjacent finger 28 which will have been moved laterally, through the medium of the rod 30 and the finger 28, entering the slot provided for its reception in the arm 25. From the foregoing it will be obvious that as the slide is drawn forward and allowed to move rearward under the impulse of the spring 20, the fingers will alternately engage one of the arms 25 and 257 rocking the head 23 in opposite directions in successive movements of the slide 18, the switch point 2 being thrown from position to position through the medium of the connecting element 42. During the reciprocation of the slide 18, as the said slide moves rearwardly, the rear end of the spring 41 which is carried by the slide will engage the lower extremity of the latch 38 before the head 23 has started to rotate, lifting the said latch from the notches 37 in the head and unlocking the head for movement. As soon as the resilient member 41 is out of engagement with the latch 38, the spring 10 will force the latch into frictional engagement with the periphery of the head 23, and into the notch 37 next encountered by the latch as the head 23 rotates, thereby locking the switch point positively in the position to which it has been moved by the device. The spring 36, should the latch 38 and its attendant mechanism be dispensed with, will serve as a means to hold the switch point in the position to which it has been thrown, the action of the spring 20 whereby the extremity of one of the fingers 28 and 28 is thrust firmly against one of the arms 25 or 25 likewise serving to hold the switch point in place.

Passing now to a detailed description of the mechanism denoted generally by the numeral 5, it will be seen that the same i11- cludes a casing 59 adapted to be mounted transversely of the track between the rails. The end of the casing adjacent the rail is provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending guides 62, trough like in form. Pivotally mounted within the casing 59 is a segmental pulley 60 provided with a lever 61- of sufficient length to extend across the line defined by the guides 62. One end of a chain 77 or other flexible element, is secured to the periphery of the member 60, the other end of the chain being connected to the end of the wire 54.

Referring to Fig. 5, the flooring of the car body is shown, and denoted by the numeral 64;. Mounted upon the lower face of the car body are spaced hangers 65 and 66, be-

tween which is located a third hanger 67 depending below the hangers 65 and 66. A bell crank 68 is supported by the hanger 65, and a second bell crank 69 is supported by the hanger 66. The hanger 67 is adapted to support pivotally, one end of a lever 70, terminating at its other end in a hook 73. One end of the bell crank 69 is united with the intermediate portion of the lever 70 by means of a rigid connecting member 71, the upper end of the bell crank 69 being connected with the lower end of the bell crank 68 by means of a flexible member 7 1, a wire or the like, into which is interposed a yieldable connection 72. A retractile spring connects the car body with the portion of the lever 7 O which is disposed between the connecting member 71 and the hanger 67, a standard 76 extending through the flooring of the car and having pivotal connection with the upper arm of the belly crank 68.

Vhen pressure is applied to the upper extremity of the standard 76, the hook 73 of the lever 7 0 will be depressed, and, traversing the guides 62 will engage the lever 61 engaging the element 5 1 and throwing the switch as hereinbefore described, the lever 61 returning to the position shown in Fig. 1, under the impulse of the spring 20 after the hooked portion 73 has passed from the lever 61. When pressure is removed from the standard 76 the retractile element 75 will raise the hook of the lever 7 O to a height sufficient to clear the ties or other obstacles which may be disposed along the track.

It is to be understood that the casing 59 may be closed by a lid of suitable construction and that the mechanism denoted by the numerals 4 and 5 may be mounted upon any suitable substructure.

To throw the switch manually the lever 58 may be grasped, the chain 55 operating the slide 18 in the same manner as though the member 54 were drawn upon.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a head pivotally supported by the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the casing beneath the head; fingers pivoted at one end to the slide and alternately engageable by the head to rock the head in opposite directions; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the head; resilient means for moving the slide in one direction; means operable to move the slide in an opposite direction; and a car-carried mechanism to actuate the last-named means.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a head pivotally supported by the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the casing beneath the head; fingers pivoted at one end to the slide and alternately engage able by the head to rock the head in oppo site directions; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the head; resilient means for moving the slide in one direction; means operable to move the slide in an opposite direction; a locking device to hold the head in predetermined positions; and means carried by the slide to render the locking device inoperative during the movement of the head.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a notched head pivotally supported by the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the casing beneath the head; fingers pivoted at one end to the slide and alternately engageable by the head to rock the head in opposite directions; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the head; resilient means for moving the slide in one direction; means for moving the slide in an opposite direction; a latch pivotally supported at its upper end by the casing and arranged to engage the notches in the head; resilient means for holding the latch in engagement with the notches; and a resilient member connected at one end with the slide and at the other end arranged to engage the latch to lift the same from the notches during the movement of the slide under the impulse of the resilient means for moving the slide.

4. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a partition located within the casing; a head pivotally supported by the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the casing beneath the head; a compression spring located within the slide and having abutment at one end with the slide and at the other end with the partition; a rod adjustably assembled at one end with the slide and at the other end arranged to extend through the partition; means assembled with the rod for moving the slide against the action of the spring; fingers pivoted at one end to the slide and alternately engageable by the head to rock the head in opposite directions; a switch point; and a connection between the switch point and the head.

5. A device of the class described com- I rising a casing; a head pivotally supported y the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the casing beneath the head; means operatively connecting the slide with the head to rock the head in opposite directions; an arm extending from the casing; a rod pivoted at one end to the head and at the other slidably mounted in the arm; a compression spring surrounding the rod between the head and the arm and operative to hold the head at the limit of its travel; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the head; resilient means for moving the slide in one direction; and means operable to move the slide in an opposite direction.

6. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a head pivotally supported by the casing and provided with oppositely extending arms having openings therethrough; a slide to reciprocate in the casing; fingers pivoted at one end of the slide and arranged to extend inoperatively through the openings in the arms and alternately engageable by the arms to rock the head in opposite directions; resilient means for positioning the fingers to engage the arms; and means for reciprocating the slide.

7. A device of the class described comprising a casing; ahead pivotally supported by the casing and provided with oppositely extending arms having openings theret-hrough; a slide to reciprocate in the easing; fingers pivoted at one end to the slide and arranged to extend inoperatively through the openings in the arms and alternately engageable by the arms to rock the head in opposite directions; a lug located upon the slide; a rod extending through the lug and through the fingers adjustably assembled with the fingers; and compression springs carried by the rod and located between the lug and the fingers, the springs being tensioned normally to hold the fingers in a position operative to engage the arms to rotate the head.

8. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a head pivotally supported by the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the easing beneath the head; means operatively connecting the head with the slide to oscillate the former upon a reciprocation of the latter; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the head; means for operating the slide; a locking device to hold the head in pre-determined positions; and means carried by the slide to render the locking device inoperative during the movement of the head.

9. A device of the class described comprising a casing; a head pivotally supported by the casing; a slide to reciprocate in the easing beneath the head; fingers pivoted at one end to the slide and alternately engageable by the head to rock the head in opposite directions; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the head; means for operating the slide; a locking device to hold the head in predetermined positions; and means carried by the slide to render the locking device inoperative during the movement of the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CYRUS C. JOHNSON.

WVitnesses T. J. CUNNINGHAM, T. H. WEITZEL. 

